Guidelines for Monitoring for Landfill Gas at and Near Former Dumps

This document was developed in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health and staff at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Closed Landfill Programs to provide guidelines for the monitoring of methane associated with landfill gas (LFG) generated from abandoned unpermitted dumps that may pose risk to existing or proposed occupied structures. Non-methane organic compounds such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with historical releases at dumps (e.g., trichloroethylene, benzene, etc.) also may present in LFG, although the focus of this guidance principally concerns the monitoring of and response to methane hazards. Abandoned dumps are not included in the state legislation which provides for the cleanup of qualified landfills. The releases associated with abandoned dumps are commonly addressed by voluntary or responsible parties with the MPCA Superfund or Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup (VIC) Programs. Detailed guidance regarding the investigation, mitigation or long term management of subsurface landfill gas is beyond the scope of this document.